Berkeley Prep’s 14-7 halftime lead grew to 21-7 12 seconds into the third quarter. Freshman QB Brad Mayes connected with Ben Novello for an 80 yard touchdown pass and it seemed as if Berkeley Prep would skate to a win in its spring game.
Todd Macon, Colby Robinson and the rest of the Bluejackets were having none of that. They scored 15 unanswered points to complete the comeback and a 22-21 win.
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The game started with a fumble by Admiral Farragut. Robinson and 2014 RB Napoleon Maxwell fumbled the handoff; Berkeley Prep rising senior Chris Williams recovered it. The Bucs would score on a 47-yard touchdown pass (Mayes to TE Jared Shimberg) but it was called back because Mayes stepped beyond the line of scrimmage before his release.
That play, however, was key for Mayes who finished with 8 completions for 138 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception and 46 yards rushing. It was his first game against varsity high school football players. He has been with the football team for less than a week – he was with the Bucs’ baseball team until it was eliminated last Friday.
“I was nervous for the first few plays,” Mayes admittedly said. He missed on his first two throws of the game, sailing both over his receivers’ heads.
“It was good. After that pass I was thinking to myself, ‘yeah; I can do this. I’m just as big as some of these other guys,’” he said.
Following the Bucs’ turnover on downs, Robinson aired it out. He launched a deep ball down the middle of the field, showing off his arm, but Novello (playing safety) snagged it and returned it 40 yards to the Bluejackets’ 20 yard line. Williams would score moments later giving the Bucs an early lead.
Admiral Farragut answered quickly. Macon rushed for two, then 10 yards before he busted off a 70-yard touchdown run. He looked loose and fluid all game long totaling 135 yards and the long touchdown.
“Todd is the heart and soul of this football team,” Miller said. “This team goes as Todd goes. He’s our emotional leader, our physical leader. He’s the leader of this football team.”
The Bluejackets were without RB Napolean Maxwell for the majority of the game after he collied with Berkeley Prep FB/LB George Pennington and Cortavious Givens (still returning from offseason surgery) .
When everyone is healthy – the three-headed monster will be scary.
“Cortavious and Napoleon are explosive football players that will take us to the next level,” head coach Chris Miller said. “When Napoleon went out, especially on defense, that hurt us because he is such a good linebacker. Cortavious is just super human. Once we get him healthy and get him back we got a real good football team.”
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Berkeley Prep —
Brad Mayes, 2015 QB
Completed 8-of-20 passes for 138 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT – also had 46 yards rushing
Mayes has good posture in the pocket. When the pocket collapses he keeps his eyes downfield and uses his footwork to move around in the pocket. Though it is his last resort, Mayes can tuck it an run. He showed good speed outrunning a number of AFA linebackers. Throws the ball very well on the move. Berkeley Prep will likely use him on a lot of roll out passes.
Chris Williams, 2013 RB/LB
137 yards rushing, 2 TD – 1 defensive fumble recovery
Tough, tough runner. Undersized, but Williams makes up for it with an unwillingness to go down.
Ben Novello, 2015 WR/DB
91 yards receiving, 1 TD – 1 INT, 40 yard return
Very thin, but Novello has good hands and speed. He ran a good seam route early in the third quarter to connect on a 80 yard TD with Mayes
George Pennington, 2014 FB/LB
All around bruiser. Pennington will set the tone defensively for Berkeley Prep.
Admiral Farragut –
Todd Macon, 2013 RB/LB
135 yards rushing, 1 TD – set the tone defensively
Florida Atlantic University was on hand to check out Macon who didn’t disappoint. Macon has great footwork, is quick and powerful. He has good vision and knows how to navigate his blockers.
Colby Robinson, 2013 QB
Completed 5 passes for 115 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Robinson is undersized a 5-10, but makes good decisions and has good accuracy and timing.
Brad Hyman Muhammad, 2013 WR/DB
He has playmaking ability, especially when he gets the ball in space. He became fatigued late in the game, as did many of the Bluejackets, because he played virtually every snap.
Kevon Woods, 2014 WR/DB
At 6-3 Woods has desirable size on the outside and made two leaping catches – the touchdown and two-point conversion to put AFA ahead. He looked a bit uncoordinated, but if he is able to get control of his long limbs, he could be a dominating WR.
Napoleon Maxwell, 2014 RB/LB
He didn’t factor much in the game due to his injury, but Maxwell looks the part. At 5-10 185 Maxwell will be an integral part of the Bluejackets moving forward.
